_______________________________________________________________Blurb

Painfully shy, slightly awkward florist Elias has daydreamed about Mateo – the hot mechanic from the shop across the street – for months. When he finally gets his chance to talk to him, Mateo’s response, or lack thereof, is enough to have Elias vowing to never make such a fool of himself again, not for any guy, no matter how hot.

But then the flowers start arriving. Every day, each with a special meaning, a story to tell him – a secret admirer who has a way with words even though Elias doesn’t even know who he is.

When Elias finds himself in over his head late one night and Mateo comes to his rescue, can Elias learn to stop expecting pretty words and start listening to his heart instead?

* This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group’s Don’t Read in the Closet event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice. Authors of the group selected a photo and prompt that spoke to them and wrote a short story.______________________________________________________________________

My Review

Elias is a florist, and has daydreamed about Mateo – the hot mechanic from the shop across the street – for months. Elias is too shy to take the first step, and when one day he manages to talk to him, Mateo doesn’t reply as he hopes. So Elias vows to never make such a fool of himself again.

“I’m not anti-romance… I just haven’t ever seen the real thing, that’s all. Until I do, I’ll continue to believe it’s something like the chupacabra… all myth, no substance.”

Elias has no idea that his feelings are requited, so he can’t figure out that the secret admirer, who sends him flowers every day, each with a special meaning, is actually Mateo.

Pansies and sweet pea. Elias laughed when he saw them. They meant loving thoughts and shyness.

It may sound cheesy, but it was not. Though a bit rushed, More Than Words is a sweet and very romantic story.

The language barrier here was not an obstacle but a liberating power for Elias, making him confident and bold. It was amazing.

There was a frantic, gritty sound to the words that made Elias grin. Mateo let loose a string of curses that were understandable in any language.
“Glad to know I’m not the only one losing his damn mind,” Elias teased, breathless.

_______________________________________________________________Blurb

I’ve known him for ages.

Forever, really. Or, at least since the first day of kindergarten, when he stole my Lego’s, then shared his cookies with me when he realized he’d made me cry.

He was my best friend. The first person I came out to. He’s the guy I gave my virginity to. The guy who taught me to fuck. The guy who taught me to be safe. He doesn’t know it, but he’s also the guy who taught me to make love.

I’m the guy he goes home with when there’s no better prospect at the club.

It was never supposed to be serious. I knew that, I even wanted that. I’m the one who broke the rules…

* This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group’s Don’t Read in the Closet event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice. Authors of the group selected a photo and prompt that spoke to them and wrote a short story.______________________________________________________________________

My Review

A heartwarming best-friends-to-lovers story! I was about to quit reading this anthology (Don’t Read in the Closet: Volume Four) but saw this story and I decided to give it a chance. And I’m so happy I did so because it was wonderful.

Tristan and Cody are best friends from childhood and fuck buddies for years, but only when they are not in a relationship with someone else. Cody realizes he is in love with Tristan and wants more, something serious and meaningful. Only he is sure Tristan would never want this thing between them to go past friendship, so he ends them.

Simple and kind of obvious storyline, some jealousy drama, a control freak and violent new (soon ex) boyfriend, and a sweet happy ending. I loved the caps – too bad I can’t talk about them because that would be spoiler…

Maybe I loved it so much just because I’ve read so many shitty stories right before this. Apart from the plot being a bit predictable and the story being too short, I can’t come up with any serious shortcomings.

_______________________________________________________________Blurb

The stage.

It’s my home.

Doesn’t matter if soft, muted-pink leather encases my feet as I perform the ballet of my career, or if I’m wearing combat boots, a little twink stripping as I twirl around a brass hued pole. What once brought me joy, a thrill, now tugs me down. But it’s all I can do. And so…I do.

Until Zeke. Zeke with his deep frowns and disapproval. With his ready smiles and sweet touches.

He’s just… Zeke. And I’m just a broken ballet dancer. Well, until Zeke.

This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group’s Don’t Read in the Closet event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice. Authors of the group selected a photo and prompt that spoke to them and wrote a short story.______________________________________________________________________

My Review

Due to an injury Tevin had to give up his career as a ballet-dancer, and now he works as a stripper: he is a real pro around the pole: he perfected teasing and giving a show, but he hates it.

God, the dance. I love it and hate it at the same time. It’s good to be moving, interpreting the music, trying to find beauty in each note.
It’s hard to do when dollar bills are littering the shined stage.

One night he meets Zeke, a friend of his boss and friend Luca. Zeke seems to know everything about Tevin by the stories he had heard by Luca, and he is already half in love with Tevin: he wants to treasure and protect him.

At this point I was worried a little because of the possibility of a rushed relationship, the big age-gap, their physical differences, but it worked out really smooth. Zeke is perceptive and not at all pushy, and Tevin, despite his immediate attraction to the gentle giant, is pretty strong-minded and a lot tougher than I supposed.